Meet the FTX CrossFit team

We are dedicated to creating a fitness community where everyone can thrive. Our gym combines expert coaching, cutting-edge facilities, and a supportive environment to help you reach your fitness goals. Discover a place where your fitness journey is guided by passion and professionalism!

Our Coaches

Our coaches are passionate professionals committed to your success. Each member of our team brings a wealth of experience and a personalized approach to help you achieve your fitness objectives. Our coaches are here to support and inspire you every step of the way!

TJ Lawson, Ashley Sell, Zane Roebuck & Mike Sell

Owners

FTX CrossFit’s community legacy was founded in 2011 by Andres Schwartz, a United States Navy SEAL Veteran, and FTX stands for Final Training Exercise, which is a series of final tests that a Navy SEAL unit must pass to demonstrate being mission ready and able to deploy. FTX has been a Wheaton landmark ever since, and is recognized for its incredible community, and our ability to unite people of all ages, abilities, and goals around a methodology that is accessible and effective for all. We train, persevere, and progress together. We build strong local communities that drive unparalleled progress and a deep sense of belonging.

In 2023, due to his cancer diagnosis, Andres chose the current owners of FTX to continue his legacy in the community: Mike Sell, Ashley Sell, Zane Roebuck, and TJ Lawson. We affirm and continue his original vision for CrossFit in Wheaton and expand his vision to include additional fitness modalities including physique training, sports performance training, strength training, personal training, and nutrition coaching. We affirm that everyone can reach their fitness goals, and all of our fitness offerings are organized so that every movement can be customized and modified based on training history, age, goals, abilities, limitations, etc. We use evidence-based programming principles to help our clients succeed and see their desired results.

Mike Sell

Owner + Trainer + Nutrition Coach

Specializations: Body Transformation, Powerlifting, Bodybuilding, Strength Training.

Mike graduated from Wheaton College in 2016 with a B.S. in Applied Health Science and has since used his education to make a difference in the world of personal health. He is Co-Owner and Head Powerlifting/Bodybuilding Coach at FTX CrossFit and Midwest Strength and Performance, is a Renaissance Periodization Certified Nutrition Coach, and a National Academy of Sports Medicine certified Personal Trainer. Mike specializes in helping people build strength while obtaining the body of their dreams. He has helped thousands of his clients build strength, build muscle, and lose fat mass.

He is a Professional Natural Bodybuilder in the World’s Largest All-Natural and Drug-Tested Bodybuilding Organization, the OCB. He also holds many National and World records in the sport of drug-free powerlifting. Mike’s best lifts include a 675 lb squat, 440 lb bench press, and 700 lb deadlift.

Fun fact: Mike won Best Overall Open Bodybuilding at the INBF Southern Natural Bodybuilding Show in 2023 while eating a Chick-fil-A only diet for 16 weeks. Outside of the gym, Mike enjoys traveling around the world with his wife, Ashley, participates in competitive eating challenges, and plays chess with friends.

Ashley Sell

Owner + Trainer + Nutrition Coach

Ashley is a Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Nutrition Coach through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, a USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach, a CrossFit Level 2 Coach, a Certified Prenatal and Postpartum Strength Coach, and a Certified Nutrition Coach through Renaissance Periodization. She is also the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Wheaton College Women’s Volleyball Team in Wheaton, IL.

She was a four year starter on the Women’s Volleyball Team at Wheaton College (IL), and she was voted MVP her senior year for her role as an influential and impactful leader. She also has experience competing in drug-free powerlifting competitions and she set the Illinois State deadlift record in the AAPF in 2017. In High School, Ashley was voted the Orange County (CA) Athletic Director’s Association Athlete of the Year for her achievements as a CIF State Champion & Captain on the Varsity Volleyball team & CIF State Swimmer.

At MSP, Ashley is focused on business operations, growth, helping her clients achieve their desired results, and optimizing the coaching and community experience. She can answer any questions you might have about membership, classes, training options, and connecting with the right Coach!

Andy Siar

Personal Trainer + Nutrition Coach + Director Of Sales

Andy has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Personal Trainer (NSCA CSCS and CPT) since 2009, a certified bodybuilding coach and has also been involved in corporate fitness roles such as high level national consulting and management.

Andy has coached a wide range of skillsets from children as young as 7 years old all the way to professional athletes of various ages and sports – and everyone in between! He loves helping people of all levels of fitness to get to their fitness desires – and push themselves beyond perceived capabilities. He joined MSP/FTX because of the community as a whole and wants everyone to feel at home walking through the doors!

Andy has two children, Ryker and Wyatt, that are familiar faces around the gym world! Aside from time with his kids he enjoys playing lots of golf, watching movies and sports and enjoying time with friends.

Jeff Romero

Head Athlete Coach + Personal Trainer

Jeff is a certified strength and conditioning coach and personal trainer since 2016, and his passion for helping people shines through in everything he does. His journey into fitness coaching began during college when he worked at a physical therapy clinic. There, he developed a strong foundation in injury prevention, rehabilitation, and helping others perform at their best.

Inspired by working with elite athletes, Jeff pursued a career in strength and conditioning. He’s known for his warm and supportive approach, designing personalized training programs that align with each individual’s goals. Whether it’s an athlete striving to push their limits or someone simply looking to feel stronger and healthier, Jeff’s thoughtful guidance helps his clients achieve more than they ever thought possible.

Outside the gym, Jeff enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, and two Shiba Inus, catching the latest movies, binge-watching TV shows, or cheering on his Chicago teams at sporting events. His approachable, down-to-earth style makes him not just a coach, but also a partner in every step of his clients’ fitness journeys.

Education: BS Kinesiology: UIC ‘15; MS Applied Exercise Science: CUC ‘23
Certifications: NSCA – CPT, CSCS; USAW-1; CFSC-1; PN-1; NASM – PES, CES; DBC L1; APCC
Specializations:
-Strength and Conditioning / Elite Sports Performance – Middle School, High School, and Collegiate Athletes
-Adult Fitness – Personal and Group Training
-Health and Lifestyle Enhancement

George Truitt

Coach + Personal Trainer

George is a CrossFit level 2 Coach and Personal Trainer. As a CF-L2 certified coach and personal trainer at FTX CrossFit, George brings a rare combination of competitive experience and coaching depth to every athlete he works with. With over 1,000 hours of CrossFit coaching under his belt, George has developed an excellent eye for seeing, correcting, and teaching athletes in a group setting. He has guided athletes to the competition floor in both powerlifting and HYROX, while helping a diverse roster of everyday clients build the strength and fitness they need to live better lives and achieve their goals. A competitor himself in CrossFit, powerlifting, and weightlifting – and currently preparing for his first bodybuilding show – George brings an insider’s perspective to every goal he helps others pursue.

Joe Earley

Coach

Joe’s athletic background include gymnastics, triathlon, bike and obstacle course racing. A friend suggested he try CrossFit, and he became immediately obsessed by the various challenges associated with the sport.

Joe’s favorite aspect of coaching is developing athletes confidence by helping them performing skills they never thought were possible for them. Joe is motivated by helping athletes realize that age is not a limiter to become fitter, stronger, and more athletic.

Joe has been competing in CrossFit for 9 years and is a Level 2 CrossFit trainer. Joe grew up in Glen Ellyn, and currently lives in Wheaton with 2 of his 3 sons. Outside of CrossFit, Joe enjoys time with family and especially his 3 grandsons.

Jeremiah Clarkson

Coach

Jeremiah discovered CrossFit in 2016 while looking for a way to stay active during college. What initially drew him in was the challenge and variety of the training, but it was the community that kept him coming back. Jeremiah has been coaching CrossFit for over five years and holds his CrossFit Level 2 Trainer credential.

Over the years, CrossFit has provided some of Jeremiah’s closest friendships, introduced him to his wife, and shaped much of the person he is today. As both a coach and competitor, he is passionate about helping others experience the same growth, confidence, and sense of belonging that CrossFit has given him.

Jeremiah continues to compete at a high level while helping athletes of all backgrounds pursue their goals, build healthy habits, and enjoy the process along the way.

Erin Bregman Clarkson

Coach

Erin is a CrossFit Level 2 coach and personal trainer. She was a competitive gymnast for 16 years and a gymnastics coach for 6 years. She found CrossFit just after high school and was welcomed with open arms into a community like none other. She found a passion for the new challenges CrossFit brought and has been competing since 2018. Moreover, she found a community that changed her life. She wants to share her knowledge and experience in hopes of giving clients the same life-changing experience she has had.

Erin’s favorite parts of coaching are teaching someone a new skill and watching someone set a PR in something they never thought was possible. She also loves seeing members lives change with the support of the community and healthy lifestyle choices.

Al Navata

Coach

Al got involved with CrossFit in 2011 when FTX CrossFit first opened. He was hooked. It changed his life. Ever since then he has been sharing this passion with members. Anyone that knows Al will right away appreciate this passion. Al has a way to make members feel welcome and a part of the great community that comprises FTX CrossFit. Al is also the owner of BoxRat, which is a mission minded apparel company serving the CrossFit community.

Heather Cisowski

Coach

As a certified Athletic Trainer, Heather is passionate about helping athletes meet their fitness goals in a safe and healthy way. She has worked with athletes of all different ages and abilities and enjoys watching each progress in their fitness and athletic abilities. Heather has been coaching at FTX since 2013. She loves the CrossFit methodology as she finds it to be a fun and efficient way to prepare for whatever physical challenges life throws your way. In her free time, Heather enjoys traveling, spending time with her husband, and volunteering at her church.

Carol Matthias

Coach

Tired of running 5ks and doing group exercise classes, Carol came to FTX CrossFit in 2012. She was quickly hooked on the variety of every workout and the community aspect. As she started at ground zero, not able to do many of the movements, and at a master’s age level, she is proof that anyone can be an athlete with consistency and effort. She got her CrossFit Level 1 in 2016 for her own development and started coaching soon afterwards.

Tim Archold

Coach

Tim is married to Karen, and they have 3 girls, Eleanor, Lucy, and Abigail. He has been a member of FTX since 2017 and now loves coaching. He is a Level 2 CrossFit Trainer and has been coaching for over four years. He is also a freelance cellist, who has played with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the Sydney Opera House, and regularly volunteers with the worship team at his church. Fun fact, he recently acquired a Salomon cello which was originally built in the 1760s. Here is an Australian, heavy lifting, workout machine, ready to prepare you for anything imaginable!

Unique Features and Facilities

We offer body composition scans with our 3D Fit scanner to aid in dialing in your training and nutrition, as well as lower cardiovascular disease risk. We have two single unit showers for added convenience. We also offer 24/7 facility access to our members.

Top-Notch Fitness Equipment

FTX CrossFit is a fully outfitted CrossFit box that features ample rig space, climbing ropes, GHDs, and top-tier conditioning equipment including bikes, ski ergs, and an Air Runner. Strength athletes will find everything they need, from a wide range of barbells and dumbbells up to 150 lbs, to a dual PRIME cable machine, Atlantis leg extension and hamstring curl machines, and a heavy-duty leg press. We also offer plenty of functional tools like kettlebells and med balls, making this a versatile space for athletes of all styles and goals.

Book Your No Sweat Intro Session Today

Take the first step towards a healthier lifestyle with a No Sweat Intro session at FTX CrossFit. Our team will provide a personalized tour of our facilities, introduce you to our services, and help you start your fitness journey. Schedule your session now and experience firsthand how we can support your goals!